"Good morning!" Gina greeted from the kitchen counter.
"Gina, what are you doing?" Dylan mumbled, scratching his messy bed hair. Wondering if taking her home last night was a mistake since she's still here.
"thought I'd make breakfast." Gina beamed up at him, leaning for a kiss.
"Gina..." Dylan sighed, crinkling his forehead, "That's very sweet but-"
"-But what?" She cut him off, her voice was stern as she folded her arms, slightly irritated
"I kinda like to keep things... casual." Dylan said, wary of Gina's glare.
"Right." Gina shook her head nervously, "Casual..."
"Don't take it personally..." He tried to comfort her, stroking her arms. "I just can't offer more right now."
"Because of Kelly..."
"What?" Dylan stepped back from her. He had been hoping to avoid this subject.
"David told me all about your history. How you guys once thought you were soulmates... You thought you'd come back for her but then found out she's with Matt."
"No, Gina it's not like that."
"Lie to me all you want." She scoffed, "But you can't lie to yourself... I can see it in your eyes. You flinch every time someone brings up her name. Just admit that's why you came back."
"Gina... I don't wanna talk about that. Can we just eat the delicious breakfast you made?" Dylan slumped himself at the table.
Gina knew all too well that he was changing the subject, but she did not have the strength walk away. She felt so drawn to him, his gorgeous James Dean good looks, that half smirk, and boy did he know how to make love. Sure she knew after sleeping with him she might be a little too attached, and maybe all she could get was some friends with benefits type of situation out of him, at least it was somethng. She had someone. Maybe it wasn't love but for a night, it sure felt like it.
"Steve." Matt pleaded at the peach pit, "You gotta tell me who this Dylan guy is... and why Kelly's gotten so high strung around him. Did you see the way you stares her up and down? I don't like it!"
"Matt, please. I'm not the guy to talk to about this. I really don't wanna get involved." Steve rubbed his forehead anxiously.
"But you've known him all your life... what happened between them?"
"I... I think you should just talk to Kelly." Steve tried not to break a sweat.
"She changes the subject every time." Steve headed behind the counter and Matt followed him, "Come on, Sanders!"
"Ugh..." Steve groaned, "Look, Dylan, Kelly and I, we're all just best friends. Dylan and Kelly dated senior year of high school and that's it."
"That's it? You're telling me Kelly's gone all awkward because of a boyfriend she had when she was 18?!" Matt rolled his eyes
Steve sighed again, looking into Matt's eyes, torn between his loyalties to Kelly and the fear instilled in Matt.
"Steve..." Matt pleaded again.
"Alright..." Steve shrugged, "They... they once thought they were soulmates."
"Before Brandon?" Matt asked
"Before Brandon... After Brandon... During Brandon."
Matt slowly slipped back down onto a stool. Steve took that as a chance to exit. Matt dwelled on those last words. If this thing that Dylan and Kelly shared once upon a time was strong enough to destroy the relationship she had with Brandon, a man she was about to marry, then... then Matt knew he had to keep a close eye on this Dylan McKay.
"Hey!" Kelly greeted Matt as he arrived at her beach apartment, but was met with no reply. Matt slumped himself on the couch
"Bad day at the office?" Kelly asked, joining him on the sofa.
"Bad day at life..." Matt fumbled with his shirt buttons.
"You okay?" Kelly asked, concerned
"Are you?" He asked
"Yeah... why?" Kelly chuckled
"Must be hard for you... with Dylan back."
"I told you, he's just an old friend." Kelly said, trying to sound firm.
"Kelly..." Matt sighed, "I talked to Steve... he was more than that."
"Oh?" Kelly's voice was shaky. She actually couldn't think of what to say next. Why did she feel guilty? She doesn't need to get into her past with a guy she's only been seeing a couple of months. Dylan's an ex boyfriend, an old friend, that's it. Why should she feel guilty just because she didn't divulge that information yet.
Kelly lied in bed that night. Luckily for her, Matt was rather understanding. She turned to face Matt who was fast asleep behind her.
Kelly, it's okay... It's okay to admit that he was once a big part of your life, I'm not gonna hold it against you... I just wanted to know that's all.
Kelly replayed Matt's words. He was so sweet. So there you go, she thought. I'm a little on edge because I was surprised to see Dylan after 2 years. So why am I feeling guilty? I have nothing to hide.
Kelly then got up. And headed over to the porch, overlooking the beach. It was that time of year again. And she knew. She knew why everything seemed so crazy. Those hot winds were blowing. For the last two years, whenever the Santa Ana winds blew, she'd remember Dylan. That was the only time she ever allowed herself to think of him. But now, now that he's here... it's going to be difficult.
I need to focus on the life I've created. I'm 22 years old. I'm a grown ass woman now. She told herself. Things have changed. I've changed. I won't let Dylan interfere with my life now.
Just as she watched the winds stroke the waves of the sea. Her mind wandered to Dylan's return.
Happy Thanksgiving, Kel.
You don't look happy to see me.
I'm still waiting on my hug.
Kelly rubbed her eyes, and sat on the rocking chair outside. However her mind still wandered to the last time they saw each other.
"Dylan, what are you doing back?" She walked right up to him at the Peach Pit After dark.
"This is my home, Kel." He sighed
"You said you'd never come back." She said firmly
"Well, you said you'd never cut bangs again..." He flicked a strand of her long blonde hair, "Although they are growing out a bit."
"The last time I saw you, we weren't exactly on good terms, why are you back here acting like everything is just fine." Kelly said impatiently
"Well..." Dylan shrugged, "A lot's happened the last 2 years... I'm not a kid anymore. I wanted to make things right."
"What do you mean?" Kelly asked, but Dylan just quietly took a sip of his beer. "Dylan!" She urged
"Let's take a walk, Kel." He said softly, in that low, raspy tone of his. Shivers sped down her spine, it's been a long time since she heard him call her, Kel.
"Dylan." She let out a breathy sigh. "Things are very different for me now. I can't just drop everything now that you've returned. This isn't like with Brandon."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Dylan cocked one eyebrow.
"You know exactly what it means." She spoke firmly. "The sneaking around, the proclamations of love and around the world trips... I'm with Matt. I'm an adult now. This is a serious relationship. Please don't come here if you're just trying to turn my world upside down."
"Upside down, huh?" Dylan smirked, "Glad to know I still have that kind of affect on you." He winked, pulled her by the hand and led her outside.
Dylan and Kelly strolled down the beach.
"Why did you bring me here?" She asked
"Sentiment." He joked
"Dylan..." She warned, "You wanna talk about how we left things?"
"No..."
"Where you've been the last two years?"
"Nope." He shook his head
"Then what? Why are you back?" Kelly urged
"Kelly..." Dylan stopped and turned to face her. "You know exactly why I'm here. You said yourself you're an adult now... and so am I. I don't want to repeat my stupid mistakes. I know my behaviour is what made me lose you last time. I've had 2 years to get it together. I know what I need to do now. I need to be home. I need to be here. I need to know where we stand..." Dylan gazed into her eyes
"What?" Kelly stepped away from him, "Dylan..." She shook her head, "that's just what I was worried about. Dylan... I'm glad you've grown up and you want to live your life differently, I really am. But what I said earlier, that's where you stand. This isn't like with Brandon. I'm sorry, but a lot has changed since you left. Matt is one of those things. I've moved on. I'm serious. I'm happy."
"I get it." Dylan rolled his eyes, "You care about Matt a lot. This isn't some childish thing."
"Why are you acting like you're not taking this seriosuly."
"Because, Kel." He whispered, moving closer to her. "Brandon, Brenda, John Sears, Collin... It doesn't matter who you're with, or how much you think you love them. It's us. Dylan and Kelly. No one stands a chance against our connection... And it's only a matter of time till Matt finds that out and you'll be with me."
"Dylan!" She pulled away. "If you came back for me then you made a mistake. I told you. This is different. We had our chance, we blew it. I'm with someone else now!"
"There's always someone else, that's the point." He pulled her close again, but she pulled out from his grasp
"I told you." She said firmly. "This is it. There is no us anymore. This isn't like the old days. We're done. There's no going back... I mean it this time." Kelly stormed off.
Dylan watched her walk off. Slightly worried. That's weird, he thought. Yeah sure she always made the big speech whenever he returned back into her life, but her voice used to be shaky, panicky, sometimes she'd even lose her temper when he returned... that's how he always knew his presence affected her, in a good way. But her voice was different now. Her voice was firm. She was certain they were over. Has she really moved on? He never could, so how could she? Did he return home too late?
Kelly forced herself out of her flashbacks and went to bed.
I told him. She thought, I said what I needed to say. I just need to be strong.